Wednesday, November 14, 2007

came to MY town! It's been wild around here as ABC and the EHM crew arrived just a week ago today. Everyone in the city - including me - seemed to be fascinated with the program, the construction, TY (hee!), but most especially, the family.

The beneficiary of this gorgeous $2 Million home was Patrick Hughes, a 19-year-old University of Louisville student and his family. Patrick was born without eyes and his arms and legs don't fully extend, so he gets around by wheelchair - and his home wasn't wheelchair accessible, inside or out. He's such an inspiring young man and he's got an amazing gift for music. He plays the piano beautifully and because his father wanted Patrick to live life as "normally" as possible, Patrick attends college and even marches in the band.

You might ask how he could do a thing like that - and the answer lies with Patrick's dad. Patrick's dad attends classes with him - AND when it comes time for band practice and performances, it is his dad that does the marching as he pushes Patrick's wheelchair with him. They are such a testimony to love and it just poors out of them and I think everyone in the city experienced it this week.

I wanted so badly to be a part of something so amazing. Hoyte, Carson and I headed down, rode the buses to the site and just experienced a once in a lifetime event. Due to bad weather, they postponed the reveal for a full 4 hours so we were unable to stay, but during our time there we managed to "sorta" see TY! (see pic!), saw the famous bus, the phenominal house, the mayor of the city and many enthusiastic people who were there for the same reason we were! :)P.S. I just wanted to add that this episode will air in Febuary on ABC and apparently will be the Season FINALE! (How cool is that??!)

46 comments:

Isn't it exciting?!?They came to columbus last year, to give a ground zero worker/marine a new home... it was amazing.

And talk about a small world...I went to NY to accept an award for my newscast...and met a woman who was getting an award... for a story she did on Patrick Hughes and his dad!! It's a crazy 6-degrees world we live in.

How amazing! I live in PA and have had the privelege of seeing Ty and the team "in action" twice. They are amazing. I've never posted before but I am such a HUGE fan of your work. I scraplift you more than any other designer! I was wondering if you will be posting the pages that you did for the Scarlet's Seasons kit at Scrapbooks.com on your gallery. My computer will not let me open the PDF file. Although I absolutely love BG, Scarlet's Letter has been the most challenging line for me to use . . .so I'd love to see some of your pages for inspiration! Thanks so much!

Oh my!! I worked on the house 4 days this week. It was truly an amazing week. I was able to work on Patrick's room on Tuesday for a couple of hours. It is AWESOME!!!! From the looks of your pictures, I was to your left along the driveway in the VIP section. In case you didn't know, this will be a 2 hour special (season finale) in Feb.Tracy

To Steph - I've already got 1/2 those pages up at both Scrapbook.com and twopeasinabucket.com if you wanted to get a closer look at the images. There are also other Scarlet pages there that might help you :)

And for Tracy - I'm so JEALOUS you got to work on the house (how did you get affliated??!) and I knew it was to air in Feb, but I had no idea it was the finale! How amazing! I actually was over by where you were for a few minutes - that's how I got to get pictures of the Mayor, I just didn't post those! So glad you enjoyed your experience!

You probably don't remember me but I just had to comment on this blog topic of yours!! This past weekend my family and I had the PLEASURE of being introduced to Patrick and his father at the Bands of America competition in Indianapolis Indiana!! I'm from Texas and my sweet daughter, Savannah and her high school competed in the competition. Anyways...just had to say this boy is such an awesome inspiration and how lucky you got to see his beautiful new home! I love your blog!

Hi Kelli, I'm french and I live near Lille. We can see the great Ty on the cable! It's totally amazing and incredible for us, poor French!! We often cry when we see the joy they bring. Sorry for my bad english and congratulates for your blog! I like it!!Catherine

I too was blessed to have the once in a lifetime opportunity to work on the Hughes' house in Lou, Ky two weeks ago. We worked outside all day Tuesday on the neighbors house, mulched in front of the Hughes' house, painted in "Art World", the famous designer tent, & painted Ty's Secret Project. On Wednesday, we carried all the painted pieces into the house, ran special items into the house for the other rooms, carried in the family's clothes, etc. The house is gorgeous! I can't wait to see the 2 hour special during sweeps week in Feb. Season finales aren't until May. According to the Asst. Locations Production Manager for EM:HE, the season doesn't wrap until the end of Feb beginning of March...therefore those shows air the rest of the normal season...making the season finale in May. We do get a 2 hour special, which is awesome. We also get sweeps week, which is pretty cool! I just can't wait to see everything on tv. I saw the house in a big disorganization right before they revealed. It will be amazing to see how they got everything together so fast! It was amazing to see the enormous force that is EM:HE and the fact that they really can build/decorate a gorgeous home really in only 5 days! It was awesome, unforgetable and indescribable. To be working in the rooms, rubbing elbows with Ty, Didiayer, Paulie, Michael, Ed and Eduardo made my year! They are all really nice and I would do it again in a heartbeat! Thanks for all the support and all the volunteers for making the Hughes' family dreams come true! I'm so glad that I had some labor in this amazing act of love! Thanks EM:HE for everything you do!

Oh, wow, Kelly!! I look forward to Sunday's just because I get to watch my favortie show, Extreme Home Makeover! I always get teary eyed when I watch it. I'll be sure to look for you in the crowd, come February!

I love this show and am always moved and inspired by the extent of the giving of time, love and money for the families in need. But one thing that concerns me is watching the facial expressions of the small children who watch the demolition of the only place they've ever known as home. They don't think it's "cool" or "awesome" and I wonder why it's necessary to do that. I think the merits of the show stand on their own without sensationalizing it.

hah, thats exciting. The show came to port deposit which is about 3 minutes from where I live to makeover a house and a horse farm this october. It was pretty cool since not only does nothing ever happen here, but I volunteered at the camp at the farm while they were filming. Unfortunately, I did not meet Ty, but I did get top meet Ed Sanders and got a picture with him with my sister. The episode is "the luther family" and is going to air next sunday. It's the 2 hour special!

This show is such and amazing show. They pic the most amazing familys to help. I got to meet ty and all the cast and be filmed for a special segment this week. it was such a wonderful experience. i was working on the Nevada house and the Family comes home today!

I, too, love this show!! I live in Vermont and was sad that it was kept such a secret that unless you were involved in the makeover, you did not know they were in your state until it was all over..I wanted soooooooooo bad to be involved in any way I could. I plan my Sunday's around this show

They are in Delaware right now, not too far away from where I live in Wilmington. I saw the site yesterday, and the house is looking amazing! Apparently the reveal is on Tuesday, but I can't find out what time that will be happening. What time was the reveal originally scheduled for when you went to try and see it?Thanks :)-Mary Beth

Last comment I promise! They came to Manchester NH (state I live in) and that was soooo cool too! I went to a fundraiser and got to see the black hair woman and Michael (I think that's his name--the good looking hispanic guy). It was very neat! Check out my blog if you have a chance! I put a few scrap pages up and you can search under 'scrap' label on the right....but yours are more creative :) Love them!

I'm going to leave any revealing info but I'm just here to gloat that I have the opportunity to be part of EM:HE in my home town this month. I was asked by my company to volunteer for a "secret mission" no one knows what it is but me. I have other ways of finding out what it is. :)I am doing everything possible to get on the construction crew. I should know by this Friday (the 15th) if I'm on or not.

I'll stop by after that date to let you know what I can (if anything).I'm really looking forward to this once in a lifetime opportunity.

The people do desevere to have help-- one bothered me--the lady who had an abusive husband but still managed to have 8 kids with him--after the first one or two figure it out and take your kids and leave ---theres help out there for abused women--why bring 8 children into the world???/

How do you get to be a volunteer on EMHE? I heard that they will be in my state (RI) tomorrow and would love to volunteer, but don't know how to go about doing it. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

My mom and I watched the Extreme Makeover that was filmed in you town. We were wondering if there is a way to buy one of the quilts made by the blind man. I can't find any info about it, so I wondered if you had any info. Thanks so much.

I live in CT, and went to Bridgeport to see the gang when they were working there! I took video and still pictures. My girls and I went twice-once when they were working, and the second time to bring the family home! We are HUGE fans of the program! My girls are Girl Scouts, and handed out pins they made for the volunteers-they made over 200! The volunteers were very appreciative. The builders got one, and moved us to the VIP section when they found out what the girls were doing! It was so awesome, the program is such a positive influence-there should be more like these on!

They came to DE the second week of Feb. I was blessed to have the once in a lifetime opportunity to volunteer. It was amazing. The house is gorgeous.I can not wait to see it on TV. I can not remember the air date. Does anyone remember?

Have you ever done a show to follow up on these past families that you have given so much to. Hopefully they are grayeful enough to care for it, because you all do such a tremendous job of providing. I hope they continue to appreciate it all for years, not just til the newness wears off.GOOD JOB Ty!!!!!!!!!

HelloI'm writing from the Dominican Republic and every week I never miss Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, but before I was thinking that all the things Ty and his equipment do was a show. I didn't think it was real because this is fantastic. But now I have read all about this reality show and I can understand that everything in the show is real. I cry every time I see the show it's fantastic and amazing. Georgina

I just had a couple of questions about the show--How do the people know to be dressed when the team shows up and how are they able to get away from their jobs, schools, etc. on such a short notice? Also how is the show able to obtain the land, permits, builders, and plans on such a short notice? I LOVE the show and wish there were more really good shows like it that help someone and also makes us feel good just watching it. Thank you.

Hello. I watch EM:HE every week and if I can't, I record it. How can you find out if and when they might be coming to your town?? I've looked a couple different places, but just can't seem to find anything. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

Hi, Will you please help us out because We did filled out an application what we have a problem. But how we will know when they are coming to our house and calling our names but we are deaf? and I wonder how long it will take us to find out? We did sent that application in last two weeks ago but we sure that they did receive ours last week, But not too sure if they have time to look into our application because it thounsand of applications but one problem is how we can hear anything if they knock our door and even we dont have any bell button with a light flashing.. Please let us know asap, Thank you all and yall have a many blessing :)